Wheel rim and method of manufacturing the same



' Feb. 17. 1.925.

G. S. LEWIS WHEEL RIM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE sAME Filed Nov. 24. 192 2 Y Patented Feb. 11 7, 1925.

' GEORGE S. LEWIS, O'F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

WHEEL RIM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE S Application filed. November 24, 1922; Serial No. 603,060.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoner. S. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wheel Rims and Methods of Manufacturing the Same, of which the fol-. lowing is a specificatlon.

My invention relates generally to metal wheel rims, but more especially to rims of c cle wheels which it is desired be of relatively light weight and still possess a high do so of strength. gne of the phases of my invention relates to the manner of producing metal wheel rims and the other phase thereof to the construction of the rim.

The object of my invention is to provlde for the production of metal wheel rims which, while being relatively light in weight, shall possess a high degree of strength and which may be economically manufactured.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a face view of a completed rim constructed in accordance with my invention. Figure 2 is a view in cross section of the tubing from which the rim is formed in accordance with certain features of my invention. Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are cross sectional views of four different forms of rims, constituting certain of the many forms in which my invention may be embodied. Fi re 7 is a cross-sectional view of another cm odiment of my invention. Figure 8 is a similar. view of still another form in which the invention may be embodied and involving a different method of production than in the case of the forms of the preceding figures; and Fi re 9, an enlarged cross sectional view 0 a rim showin eyelets at the spoke-Iii ple openlngs therein. Referring first to t e structure shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the rim is formed from a metal tube shown in Fig. 2, this tube being, by way of example, a plece of seamless steel tubing or tubing formed from a strip of metal bent to form a tube with its adjacent edges welded, or otherwise united, to make a joint extending lengthwise of the tube. The

' tube of Fig. 2f in the forming of the rim,

'is pressed, roe applied crosswise thereof, mto deformed condition, as for example,

the use of i into the cross-sectional shape shown in. Fig. 3 to cause the deformed tube to present the transversel curved seating surface for the tire (not s own) which would encircle the rim, this seatin surface being represented at 4 and exten ing, as will be understood, about the outer eriphery of the rim in its finished state. he deforming of the tube, as stated, causes the rim to present the lateral hollow portions 5 at its opposite edges and between these portions a strip-portion 6 which flatwise opposes, and preferably contacts with, the inner surface of the part of the rim affording the seating surface 4, at the medial line of the rim, as represented in Fig. 3, it being preferred that these two flatwise opposed portions of the rim be welded together, as for example, by spot welding them at intervals about the circumference of the rim. The tube of Fig. 2 may be operated on to deform it as stated, in any desirable way, but preferably by passing the tube through forming-rollers, the peripheries of which are of such contour as to cause the tube to be deformed into the cross sectional shape shown in Fig. 3. The deformed tube is caused to assume curved form in a lengthwise direction to cause the rim, when finished, to be truly circular in form and of the desired diameter. 7

The curving of the deformed tube, as stated, may be effected in any desired manner, as for example, by causing the deformed end of the tube, as it issues from the deforming rollers, to engage a roller or other element so positioned as to deflect the ,deformed tube, as it moves against the roller, into the desired curved shape. The deformed tube, to form the continuous rim, is then welded at its abutting ends or otherwise united in any other desirable way.

In accordance with the common practice of providing openings in the rim between its marginal edges for receiving the nipples of the spokes of the wheel, the portion of the rim between the tubular portions 5 would contain such openings (not shown) which would preferably be arranged in staggered relation, inaccordance with common prac- I to be deformed into the cross sectional shape shown in this figure instead of the shape shown in Fig. 3.

The construction of the rim shown in Fig.

5 may be formed as explained of the construction shown in Fig. 3, except that the tube deforming rollers are so formed as to roll the tube to the form shown in Fig. 5, in which form the metal located at the inner periphery of the rim is deflected into con; tact with the metal forming the seating surface 4 at spaced apart points, at opposite sides of the medial line of the rim, as represented at 8, at which points these opposing metal portions are united together, as by spot welding them at intervals.

The constrnctionshown in Fig. 6 represents an embodiment of the invention where the body of the rim is made of relatively soft metal, as for example, aluminum. This combination involves the provision of a strip, separate from the tube which is deformed to form the body of the rim, this strip serving to cause the rim to present additional metal at the central portion thereof. The construction of Fig. 6 may be made in the same way as that shown in Fig. 3 except that the tube-deforming rollers would be so shaped as to cause a space to be provided between the part of the rim corresponding with the art 6 of Fig. 3, and the opposing portion 0 the tire-seating portion l thereof, of a height equal substantially to the thickness of the reenforcing strip to be assembled therewith, and represented at 7. The strip 7 may be assembled with the body of the rim in any desired way and in accordance with any desired method of oporation, as for example, by first deforming the tube from which the rim is to be made, into substantially oval-shape in cross-section, then introducing the strip 7 into the partially deformed tube, and thereafter rolling the partially deformed tube and contained strip into the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. 6, it being preferred that this strip be of such length that its ends will overlap when the ends of the body of the rim are in abutting relation. If desired, and by prefer-' ence, the central portion of the rim, where it presents the three thicknesses of metal, as shown, and at which the openings for the spoke nipples would be located. is spot welded at intervals around the circumference of the rim, or these thicknesses of metal otherwise secured together.

It will be noted as to the constructions shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, that by reason of the relatively thick' body of metal formtd between the lateral tubular portions of the rim, as compared with the relatively wide spacing of the walls of these tubular portions 5, the rim is caused to present great strength and suflicient to compensate for the forming of openings therein for the spoke nipples and cause the rim to present a high degree of strength, this being augmented, to a high degree, by the use of the separate reenforcing strip 7 in the construction shown in Fig. 6.

The construction shown in Fig. 7 also represents an embodiment of the invention where the body of the rim is formed of relatively soft metal, as for example, aluminum. It differs materially from the construction shown in Fig. 3 and the method of manufacturing the latter, only in the particular that the hollow portions of the rim at its lateral edge portions contain tubing represented at 9, as for example, of steel which are provided to stiffen the rim. \Vhen the rim of this figure is formed by deforming a tube into the desired cross-sectional shape, the tube is deformed about the tubing 9 to cause the latter to be positioned in the rim as shown, the adjacent ends of the tubing 9 being secured together in any desirable way, as by connecting them together by the use of dowels (not shown).

The construction shown in Fig. 8 constitutes another embodiment of the feature of my invention relating to the massing of metal adjacent the medial line of the rim, and is illustrative of a construction embodying this feature which may be formed of a strip of metal instead of a tube. The producing of the rim of Fig. 8 involves the bending of a strip of metal into the cross sectional shape shown therein by any suitable means, as for example, by formingrollers, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, the edges of the strip, these edges being represented at 10 and 11, overlapping each other along the medial line of the rim and flatwise opposing the seat-forming portion 4 of the rim. These three layers of metal are provided along the medial line of the rim and are united in any desirable way, as by spot welding them at intervals. The strip formed into the cross sectional shape shown in Fig. 8, is curved lengthwise thereof and its ends united to form the continuous rim, as explained in connection-with the construction shown in Fig. 3.

The particular cross-sectional shapes shown of the hollow portions at the lateral edges of the rims of Figs. 3 and 5 to 8 inclusive are by way of example only, it being understood that these portions may be otherwise shaped if desired. Furthermore, the feature of the reenforced hollow portions (Fig. 7) may be incorporated in a rim formed from a flat sheet of metal as dis tinguished from forming it from a tube as described.

If desired, the openings in the rims for receiving the spoke-nipples may contain eyelets, this being especlally desirable when the body of the rim is made of soft metal preventing welding thereof, these eyelets preferably serving to reenforce' the metal at the openings and secure together the flatwise opposed portions of the rim. .The manner of providingthe eyelets is represented in Fig. 9 wherein the eyelet is shown at 12 and Where such are used with metal which may be welded, the welding of the flatwise opposed portions of the metal, as stated, may

be dis used with. g

Whlle I have illustrated and described certain forms of-rimconstituting embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto,

nor do I wish to be understood as intendin to limit the invention to the production 0 the rims by the methods as above explained, it. being my intention to claim my inv'en-.

, tion as fully and completely as the prior state of the artwill permit.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The method of formingmetal wheel time which consists in bending a tube of'the metal from which the rim is to be formed,

to-cause the central portions of the metal forming the tube to become flattened into contact witheach other and the remaining portions. of the tube to be in spaced relation, curving the deformed tube lengthwise thereof, and connecting together the ends of ,the' deformed tube to form a continuous member.

2. The method of forming metal wheel rims which consists in bending a tube of metal from which the rim is to be formed,

to cause the central portions of the metal forming the tube to become flattened into contactwith each other and the remaining portions of the tube to be in spaced relation, curving it lengthwise thereof, inserting a.

reenforcingst-rip into the tube, and connect- 7 ingthe ends of the deformed a continuous member. I

3. The. method of forming rims which consists in 'positloning tubular members in a tube from which the rim is to be formed, bending the tube to present hollow portionsat its lateral edges and en-- closing the tubular members therein, curving lengthwise the parts constructed as stated and connectingv together the ends of the, deformed tube. I

4.-A metal wheel rim comprising a hollow member the wall of which is continuous in cross-section, the opposed wall portions of said member intermediate the lateral edges of the latter being closely adjacent to each other. and the portions thereof at the lateral edges of the member being'relatively low member the wall of which is continuous in cross-section and presents hollow portions at its lateral edges, and reenforcing members in said hollow portions.

GEORGE s. LEWIS. 1

tube to form metal wheel 

